Fury made me better father – Pitt

Hollywood star Brad Pitt has said playing a US army officer in his new movie Fury has helped him to be a “better father”.

The World War Z actor, who has six children with wife Angelina Jolie, plays US Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier in the Second World War film, which closes the BFI London Film Festival tonight. He was also one of the film’s producers.

“I learnt a lot from this film. We all walked away absolutely enriched,” the 50-year-old actor said ahead of the film’s European premiere in London’s Leicester Square.

“This role is a real study in leadership and learning to command respect and because of this, I am now a better father.”

He added: “This film is about the soldiers’ exhaustion from the cold, hunger and the accumulative effect on a daily basis. We took that to heart. I hope the soldiers will walk away from this and feel they are recognised.”

Fury, written and directed by David Ayer, also stars Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena and Jon Bernthal as Wardaddy’s crew, who all attended the film’s press conference in London.

The film, which was shot in England, follows the five-man crew of a Sherman tank called Fury in the European Theatre of war in April 1945 as the Allies head into Nazi Germany.

Pitt, who was referred to as “Top Dog” on set, admitted he got rather attached to his armoured vehicle.

“There’s nothing ergonomic about a tank. But we were forced to familiarise ourselves with the tank and find our comfort spots,” he explained. “I became quite proprietorial. It became our tank.”

Ayer added: “Brad stayed in the tank on set. I would have to climb into the tank to talk to him. It was like his eagle’s nest where he would look down on us.” Pitt joked: “It was the best view.”

The group worked together at bootcamp for three months before shooting.

“This is definitely the most demanding project I’ve done, the most committed and the most dedicated,” said Lerman. “We did research on a very detailed level and got to know each other on a very personal level.”

LaBeouf added: “This has been the most rewarding and incredible experience in all my career and life.”